*Fight Canceled*
A perfect six for six: first-round submission finishes.
That's the feat waiting for Colton Cronkite (1-0) when he takes on Ergys Sigeta (1-0) at Fight Night 6 in Lethbridge, hosting the bout in his home city at the Enmax Centre on Saturday. The two will meet in the middleweight division.
Cronkite, 27, has captured his last five bouts — four as an amateur — each ending in a first-round submission. Yet even with his proven ability to make opponents tap out, he insists that's not a goal he sets before stepping into the cage.
"I just step in there and react to whatever comes my way," Cronkite told reporters in an interview. "That's the way I approach every fight."
"I've just gotten lucky landing five submissions."
His unbroken winning streak is far from a fluke, however — all 10 of his MMA victories across both amateur and professional ranks have come via submission, establishing him as a dominant force on the ground.
Building on the Strength of Canadian Martial Arts Centre
Cronkite had originally been matched up with Leroy Noltcho, but Noltcho withdrew because of injury. With little information available on his replacement, Sigeta, Cronkite has been preparing for the fight to play out however it will.
He credits his top-tier training partners at Canadian Martial Arts Centre for helping him rehearse every possible scenario against Sigeta.
"I've got everything I need right here. We've got strikers, wrestlers, grapplers, jiu jitsu specialists — everything under one roof," Cronkite explained.
"Our gym covers all the bases, so it's great to get exposure to every style."
Among Cronkite's sparring partners is current UFC fighter Jordan Mein, a presence he considers invaluable.
"Having someone with his experience and knowledge is incredibly useful. He pushes himself hard, and it's a real advantage to train alongside him."
Grant's MMA Product Ergys Sigeta
Traveling down from Vaughan, ON, and representing Grant's MMA, 20-year-old Sigeta arrives at Fight Night 6 with a flawless record, having never lost a bout from his amateur days onward.
Sigeta acknowledges that Saturday's matchup will be a serious challenge, and he fully understands Cronkite's dangerous grappling ability.
Still, despite Cronkite's submission pedigree, Sigeta believes he holds the advantage on the mat.
Foolproof way to annoy Ergys Sigeta.
1) Claim to be a better grappler than him.
2) Continue… https://t.co/IRjNEGt9Ye
— Todd Stoute (@BlackHulkNation) December 22, 2017
"My ground game feels stronger, but I'm not taking his grappling lightly," Sigeta said during an interview.
"I'll be very careful with his submissions and attack attempts."
Sigeta noted that outside of a few minor adjustments tailored to Cronkite's fighting style, his training camp has remained largely unchanged.
He's ready for the fight to unfold in any direction once the cage closes, confident that whichever way it goes, he'll emerge victorious.
"My plan is to execute the strategy I've laid out and secure the win," Sigeta declared.
"I believe no matter where the fight takes us, I hold the advantage."
